- Written by Kelly Allen
- BBC monitoring
image source, global times
Chinese media is fueling the idea that Texas has reached a state of war
As the border standoff between Texas and the White House escalates over illegal immigration, false information is spreading in China that the Lone Star State has formally declared war on its withdrawal from the United States.
Popular Chinese media has suggested that the events in Texas are leading to deep divisions in the United States, to the point where unrest becomes a palpable reality.
More than 6.3 million immigrants have entered the United States illegally since the beginning of 2021, a record number that has intensified the conflict between President Joe Biden and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
As part of his “Operation Lone Star,” Mr. Abbott is trying to prevent or deter people from entering the state, including installing about 30 miles (48 kilometers) of razor wire fencing along the city of Eagle Pass.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Mr. Abbott last month, but Republicans vowed to add more razor wire to crack down on what Mr. Abbott called “aggression.”
A social media post trending in China claims Mr Abbott was preparing for war with US federal authorities.
Posts with the hashtag #TexasDeclaresAStateOfWar have been viewed and shared thousands of times on the popular social network Sina Weibo. Some of the posts come from users with millions of followers.
Wen Hao, a Voice of America journalist who specializes in Chinese online disinformation, told , this didn’t happen in real life.”
“Netizens are rooting for what is being called America’s self-destruction,” the post added.
Weibo does seem to have taken steps to restrict such content. Searching for posts with the hashtag #TexasDeclaresAStateOfWar now displays a disclaimer that says, “Content on this topic cannot be displayed in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies.”
But there are still many posts to be found on this popular platform with over 600 million monthly active users.
Users have been spreading photos of the Texas Department of Military Affairs raising a flag above its headquarters that reads “Come and Take It,” leading to the perception domestically that Texas is agitating for independence. There is.
An old Fox News video also circulates showing vigilantes wearing camouflage uniforms to “secure the border.” Additionally, footage of military tanks has been falsely circulated from Chile as being from Texas.
The video has been viewed over 49,000 times after being posted by a user with over 3 million followers
Censorship has made it difficult for Chinese users to fact-check themselves, giving many Weibo users the impression that the country is at war.
Some have suggested that Texas could find itself in a similar situation to Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, given the two regions’ similar landmass.
This image comparing the land mass of Ukraine and Texas is widely shared in China
Chinese state media now regularly suggests that political divisions in the United States are so polarized that they are on the brink of internal conflict, with media messages giving more credence to the idea of civil war. It has become.
The term “civil war” has been repeatedly used in Chinese newspapers since the January 2021 Capitol riot.
Most foreign media are blocked in China, but their content is often cherry-picked to suggest divisions within the United States.
For example, Chinese social media users on Friday were able to see reports that Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, would send up to 1,000 National Guard troops to Texas.
China often releases such reports in response to Western countries that have issued critical comments about China’s handling of issues in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It’s a way of saying, instead of telling us how to run the country, focus on your own backyard.
This is not limited to the United States. When British politicians criticize the Chinese Communist Party, we often see newspapers amplifying the suggestion that Scotland is increasingly pushing for autonomy.
The Chinese government insists that it does not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. “This has always been a principle of our foreign policy and is recognized by the international community,” the country said in a recent statement.